Lumber and timber trade-marking device



J. G. MCDONOUGH. LUMBER AND TMBERTRADE MAHKNG DEVICE. APPLICATION man saP|.15.1917. RENEWED MAY 2311921.

1,400,223. Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

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LUMBER AND TIMBER TRADE MARKING DEVICE. MPL10/111011 man sP1.15,1917. RENEwED MAY 23.1921.

1,400,223. l Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

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LUMBER AND TIMBER TRADEJEJIARKDTG- tying means to the vertical end surfaces oi:v

the pieces of lumber or timber.

A further object is to provide a trademarking device adapted for use generally with machines or apparatus for handling lumber or timber, but particularly designed for planers and like machines where the lumber is fed longitudinally between upper and lower rolls.

@ther objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in various construct-ions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

ln the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through a trade-marking device embodying my invention, illustrating its application to a machine in which the lumber is fed be. tween upper and lower rolls, l

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the saine,

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the successive positions assumed by the die in the marking operation,

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, showing a die with a heating means applied thereto,

Fig. 7 is a sectional View on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the drawing, 2 and 3l represent guides between which the lumber or timber is fed and 4 and 5 upper and lower -feed rolls.

mounted to advance the lumber between the guides. 6 is a bracket mounted above and adjacent the feed rolls and 7 represents a hubjournaled on a shaft 8 which has bear- Specicaton or Letters Eatent.

i, Je l in latented i' 3 Serial lo. 71,5433

ings in the bracket 6 and provided depending arms 9.- die carrier 10 is Le'om trally pivoted at 11 in the lower ends of arms 9 and marking or branding dies t2 are mounted in the ends of the carrier 1C The oscillation of the arms 9 toward machine is'limited by means o a stop 13 projecting from the hub 7 and seite against a compression spring 14 that i carried by a screw 15 mounted in the bracl 6 and having its end in position to conca-et with' the arm 13 and limit upwarl movement of the same. rFhe spring'14 is positioned to yieldingly resist such upward movement. plunger 16 is mounted to slide in a guide 17 in said bracket against me tenslon of a compression spring 16 and a head 19 on said plunger is positioned 'o bear on anti-friction rollers 2O carried bv' the die carrier. The elect of this f' ment of the head 19 with the rollers uis ite position or center the die carrier proper? so that a die will be in the path of the lumber or timber 'ed between the rolls 4 and 5. An arm 21 is mounted on the shaft T5 and provided with a rod 22 on which a weight 23 is adjustable, said weight resisting-.the outward movement or" 'the arms 9 and the die carrier and normally tending to hold the arm 13 in position to compress the spring 14 and serve as a counter-balance to maintain the die carrier and die in proper position to trade-mark the lumber. An inking roll 24 is mounted to contact with the dies during the revolution of the carrier, and apply a supply of ink with each revolution of the carrier.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 l have illustrated the successive steps. in the marking operation,

In Fig. 3 a piece of lumber is shown in contact with one end of the carrier and the die therein. The pressure of the lumber will push the arms 9 outwardly and raise the weight 23, while the carrier will begin to revolve on its axis out oie the path of the lumber and against the pressure of the plunger 16.

In Fig. 4 the carrier is shown in a vertical position, being partially revolved with one of the anti-friction rollers 20 bearing' on the under surface of the head 19 and the pressure of the lumber revolving the carrier while the roller slowly moves across the face of 'the head. The final position of the carrier is shown in Fig. 5, where it has almost completed its revolution, isy bearing on the upper surface of the lumber, ready. to drop back to its normal marking position, as shown in Fig. *1, as soon as the lumber has passed out from under it. As soon as the carrier has become clear ifA the lumber, the pressure of the h ead 19 on the rollers 20 will again position the carrier to receive the 1mpact of the next advancing piece of lumber and apply the trade-mark or other identifying means thereto. n

In the operation of a planing mill, the lumber or. timber is vfed rapidly, the abut ting ends of the pieces contacting with such pressure that frequently adjacent pieces will be stuck together and considerable force or pressure is necessary to separate them as they pass out of the planing mill. Such separation is obviously necessary to allow7 the marking device to assume its normal marking position after applying the identi-l fying mark to one piece of lumber or timber before the succeeding piece reaches the markposition. operation of the device that the springlS and weight 23, in additionto the function already described, cause a pressure to be transmitted to a piece of lumber or timber transversely to the feeding movement thereof sufficient to disengage the piece from the succeeding one 'and insure its dropping out of alinement with the feeding movement and permitting the marking device to return to its normal marking position, read to engage the y succeeding-piece. As the lum er movels rapidly, it is evidently necessary to provide sufficient space between the feeding means and the marking device to allow one piece of lumber to be moved out of the path of the feed and give the marking device time to return to its marking position while th'e succeeding piece of lumber is approaching the marking position. This is all accomplished by the apparatusas herein shown and described. rIhe marking die, engaging the surface of the forward piece of lumber,rides over upon it and exerts through the power of the spring and weight a downward pressure on the piece of lumber which will instantlyseparateit from the succeeding piece as soon as the marked piece is clear of the feeding and guiding means.

form of carrier with a heating means applied thereto. In'this construction the carrier 25 has hollow gud ons or pivot pins 26 in su porting arms 2%. Pins 28 are mounted in said hollow pivots and connected with plates 29 mounted in the ends of the carrier. Recesses 30 are provided in the rear of the dies I have found in the actual and out of the insulated from the walls of the carrier and resistance coils 3l are provided in these recesses and in circuit with the pins 28 and the plates 29. Contact springs 32 are mounted to bear on the ends of the pins 28 and are insulated from the arms 27 and connected with conductors 33 of a suitable electric circuit which, when admitted through the resistance coils, will heat the dies and brand or burn a mark in the surface of the lumber,

or timber. In other respects the construction and operation of the markingdie is substantially the same as described with reference 'shown and idescribed maybe modified yand still be within the scope of my invention.

1 may also modify the means for heating the die, .using a different heating agent from that shown herein, if preferred.

1` claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with a means for feeding lumber or timber, of a die mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and arranged transversely of the lumber and in the path thereof for applying an identifying mark to an end surface of the lumber, said die having a surface for Contact with the lumber after the marking operation is completed.

2. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a trade-marking device mounted to revolve on a horizontal `axis' transversely of the movingr lumber and in the path of the same, said die having a surface arranged to contact with and slide upon a surface of the lumber when the marking operation has been completed.

3. `fThe combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a trade-marking device mounted on a horizontal axis transverse to-themoving lumber and in the path of the same .for applying a mark to a surface of the lumber, and also having an oscillating movement out4 of the path of the lumber. In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a modified 4. The combination, with means for feedlinglumb'er or timber, of a trade-marking device mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis in the path of the lumber and also mounted`to move bodily to a point above path of the lumber under pressure of the lumber against said trademarking device.

5. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a trade-marking die mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis in the path of the lumber, pivoted arms whereon said die is supported mounted to move with said die to a point above and out of the path of the lumber through the 'pressure of the lumber against said die, and

means for returning said die and arms to their normal position when relieved ofthe pressure of the lumber.

6. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a trade-marking device mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis in the path of the lumber and also mounted to move bodily to a point out of the path of the lumber under pressure of the lumber thereon.

7 The combination, with means for feeding lumber, of a revolving die, arms Wherein said die is mounted, a counter-balance connected with said arms for normally resisting the pressure of the lumber on said die, and means for tilting said arms and die against the load of said counter-balance for positioning the die with respectto the surface to be marked.

8. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a die having an axis transverse to the lumber, anti-friction rollers mounted thereon, a spring-pressed plunger engaging said rollers for centering said die with respect to the lumber.

9. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a die carrier mounted on a horizontal axis and having dies in the ends thereof for alternate engagement with the lumber, means for holding said die in the path of the lumber with a yielding pressure, and means for inking the face of the dies. r

10. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a die carrier mounted on an axis transverse to the lumber and moved to a point above the lumber following the marking operation, dies mounted in the vface of said carrier, means for positioning said carrier 'with respect to the surface of the lumber to be marked, and means for preparing said dies to mark the lumber.

11. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a die carrier mounted on an axis transverse to the lumber and moved to a point above the lumber following the marking operation, dies mounted in said carrier, means for positioning said carrier and dies in the path of the lumber, and means for preparing said dies to mark the lumber.

12. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a die, anti-friction rollers mounted thereon, spring-pressed means engaging said rollers for. centering said die with respect to the lumber, said die being mounted formovement bodily out of the path of the lumber through its pressure thereon.

13. The combination, with means for feeding lumber or timber, of a die, spring pressed means for' centering said die with respect to the lumber to be marked, said die being mounted for movement bodily out of the path of the lumber through its pressure thereon.

14. lThe combination, with a lumber planing mill rolls, of an identifying device mounted for movement on a horizontal axis transversel of the lumber to be marked, said identi ying device riding on the lumber and being mounted to exert a pressure thereon transversely to the feed of the lumber for separating each marked piece from the succeeding one.

15. The combination, with means for feeding abutting pieces of lumber or timber, of a die carrier and die mounted for movement on a horizontal axis transversely of the moving lumber in the ath of the same, said carrier having a -sur ace for contacting with the lumber when the marking operation has been completed and means for separating a pieceof lumber from a succeeding piece and allowing said die and carrier to 'assume their marking position before such succeeding piece of lumber reaches said marking position.

16. The combination, with means for feeding abutting pieces of lumber lengthwise, of a marking die mounted to turnen a horizontal transverse axis to perform a single marking operation upon each piece of lumber of any length fed with vertical abutting surfaces, the marking movement of 'the die toward the surface to be marked beginning with the engagement of a vertical surface of the feeding piece of lumber with said device.

17. The combination, with a planing mill lumber or timber feeding rolls, of an identifying device mounted on a horizontal axis for marking the forward surface of the lumber or timber, said identifying device being actuated through the engagement of the forward vertical surface of each piece of lumber therewith fed in abutting Contact.

18. The combination, with planning mill lumber feeding rolls, of an identifying device mounted on a horizontal axis for marking a forward surface of the`lumber, the marking operation being performed through contact of the positively fed lumber -with said identifying device, and means for `a succeeding piece and allowing said die to assume its marking position before such succeeding piece of lumber reaches said marking position.

2l. The combination, with means for feeding pieces of lumber lengthwise in ,abutting relation, of a device for performing a single marking operation on a surface of the pieces of lumber of any length, said device being moved by engagement of a vertical surface of the pieces of lumber with a part thereof, said device automatically setting itself in position to begin the engaging movement upon a succeeding piece of lumber when said devicev has cleared the marked piece and means for positively separating the abutting pieces of lumber.

22. The combination, with means for feeding lumber lengthwise, of a device operating vertically for making a mark or impression on a surface of a piece of lumber of any length, said device having a. surface to prevent a repeated marking operation on the same piece of lumber.

- 23. The combination, with means for feeding lumber lengthwise, of a die having a turning movement on a horizontal axis for marking lumber of any length, the movement of the lumber performing the marking operation, the marked piece of lumber arresting a turmng movement of said die after the marking operation.

24. The combination, with means for feeding pieces of lumber lengthwise in abutting relation, of a device moving vertically for applying a single identifying mark to a forward surface of each of the abutting pieces of lumber of any length, said device being operated by the abutting pieces of moving lumber and setting itself to'repeat the operation when the first piece of lumber has cleared said marking device.

25.- The combination, with planing mill rolls for feeding lumber or timber, ofn a device moving vertically for applying an identifying mark to a surface of the lumber or timber, and guides above and below the lumber for guiding it from said rolls to said marking device and means for positively separating each marked piece of lumber or timber from the succeeding piece.

26. lfhe combination, with means for feed- Leccese ing lumber or timber longitudinally, of a trade-marking device in the path of the lumber and having a vertical oscillating movement for applying an identifying mark to a surface thereof, and means for applying a marking iuid to said trade-marking devlce.

27. The combination, with means for-feeding lumber longitudinally, ofa die carrier and die mounted to move vertically over the lumber to apply an identifying mark thereto and means actuated through the pressure 'of the luniber for moving said die carrier out of the path of the lumber when the marking operation is completed, and'means for positively separating each piece of lumber after the marking operation from the succeeding iece. -L

p 28. The combination, with means for feeding pieces of lumber of any length abuttingly with vertical surfaces in contact with each other, of means for making a single lmark on each ofthe pieces approaching said marking means, and spring pressed means for positively separating a marked vpiece from the contacting succeeding piece.

29. The combination, with means for feeding lumber orv timber of any length abut- -tingly, with their end surfaces in contact-ing movement, and weighted means for moving each piece out of alinement with the other pieces when the marking operation has been completed.

32. The combination, with a means for feeding pieces of lumber in abutting relation, of a marking device positioned with respect to said feeding means to allow separation of the pieces of lumber before the surface to bemarked reaches its marking position,` and means for positively separating the abutting pieces of lumber or timber when the marking loperation is performed and permitting the marking device and the succeeding piece of lumber or timber to move into position to repeat the marking operation.

33. The combination, with means ,for feeding pieces of lumber in abutting contacting relation, of means for markin the piecesof lumber or timber and means or applying a pressure transverse to the feed of the lumber of means for marking each piece `separately and but once duringthe feeding to separate each forward piece from the suomoving each marked piece out of the path ceeding one. of the abutting succeeding piece. 10 34. The combination, with means for feed- In Witness whereof l have hereunto Set my ing4 lumber or timber of any length abuthand this 11th day of Sept., 1917.

5 tngly, with their end surfaces in contacting JOSEPH G. MODONOUGH.

relation, of means for marking each piece Witnesses: separately as itis feel to said marking means, E. W. HARGETT,. and' means cooperating with gravity for S. L. VooRHIEs. 

